ISBN: 0876633327 9780876633328

Category: Medical / Nutrition

Page count: 177

Abstract: Tracing dietary habits through the ages reveals many fads and fables. Food taboos and avoidances resulted from partial truths and medical misconceptions. Many diets resemble religions; they have definite rituals and elements of sacrifice. The historical development of vegetarianism is followed with quotations from some of the people that have promoted it, such as Seneca, Shelley and George Bernard Shaw among others. Selected food definitions, a selected bibliography and an index are included. (cs).